Merlin 4.06 - Servant of Two Masters (again)

[corilannam]

Okay, I'm marginally calmer now.

OH HA HA HA NOT REALLY I'M TOTALLY LYING. I'm still flailing and squeeing like a crazy person, actually.


There really is nothing at all I didn't love about this episode. So let's just start listing the awesome things, shall we?


1) Teaser -- Arthur listens to Merlin! And OMG, Arthur's face when he saw Merlin had fallen! So stricken! Losing Merlin is really just about the worst thing that could happen to Arthur. He doesn't even know how to cope with that.

2) Hello, who's been reading the h/c fic lately? I just can't even express how it felt to hear Arthur telling Merlin that he was so brave and loyal and wonderful. I think my thoughts were expressed by the look on Merlin's face -- "Oh, shit, I really am going to die, aren't I?" But seriously, this is just amazing, this new Arthur. What fantastic development out of his changes in 4.05. He can still playfully insult Merlin, but he's also no longer afraid to show Merlin his true feelings, completely raw and unrepressed.

3) "Leave me!" "Now's not the time for jokes." God, I just love that. Because it is laughable to think that Arthur would ever leave Merlin behind, and I love him outright saying it. And the way he just slings Merlin over his shoulders....

4) "MERLIN!" OH, ARTHUR'S FACE. HIS FACE. REACHING OUT TO MERLIN. OH MY HEART.

5) I love that Morgana is now finding Agravaine to be as completely useless as the rest of us do. At both the beginning and end of the episode, I got a good giggle of Morgana giving Agravaine his performance review. I bet it had a lot of checkmarks under "Needs Improvement."

6) And now, the moment we've all been waiting for -- WET MERLIN BONDAGE. "Could you do me a favor? Let Arthur know. He still thinks I'm an underachiever, but I'm quite proud of those accomplishments." That is such an awesome comeback. You know, I never really got into the Merlin/Morgana thing, but man, that whole scene was totally crackling with sex (no, not JUST because Colin Morgan was all defiant, soaking wet, and chained to the ceiling).

And the conversation was marvelous character development, particularly for Morgana. "Don't think I don't understand loyalty just because I've no one left to be loyal to." I'm still not sure how we ended up with this Morgana, but I think I'm in love with her now. She doesn't always make sense, but she's gorgeous and angsty and I can't wait for the day when Merlin faces her as himself.

7) OMG. When they give Arthur the scrap of Merlin's jacket. His face. The pain. And best of all, the way he cuts off Agravaine's mealy mouthed false sympathy with a simple lift of his hand because he can't hear another word. Agravaine should thank every god he might believe in that Arthur didn't know at that moment that he was the traitor -- Arthur in this mood would not have been a merciful king. Not without Merlin.

8) GEORGE. OMG, so hilarious. "He is MY manservant." That's right. Merlin is Arthur's, and in the end, that is totally the only thing that matters.

9) GWEN. Okay, so I wasn't pleased when she tried to keep Arthur from riding out to look for Merlin (though I loved that just for the way Arthur would not even consider not going for a second). I will just point out, futile as I know it is, that back in S1, Gwen would have been getting on a horse to go with him. I think they missed a great chance to let her do something by not having her go -- but at the same time, I am TOTALLY NOT COMPLAINING that it was Gwaine that went with him. And on that note....

10) GWAINE. EEEEEEE Gwaine had something real to do! Sort of! I do love how Gwaine's very favorite topic of conversation with Arthur still seems to be about how Merlin never asks for praise (BUT SHOULDN'T SOMEBODY GIVE HIM SOME, HINT HINT).

And while I'm on the subject of Gwaine, how cute was it when he accosted Merlin in the hallway to snag some munchies off Arthur's plate? Obviously, it was not the first time, and obviously, he usually gets away with it. Very hot the way he kept playfully blocking Merlin's way with his body--and he was so confused when Merlin didn't flirt back!

11) THE HUG OMG THE HUG THE HUG THE HUG. Okay, so it was blink and you missed it and Merlin doesn't remember it. BUT I DON'T CARE. Arthur hugged Merlin! His eyes were shining with joy! SHINING! He didn't even care that Merlin was slimy and stinking with bog filth. He didn't care that there was a witness who will probably remark on this later (someone write me this scene, please?)! He just had to get Merlin into his arms.

And if he did it once, he can do it lots of times in the future. And he'll treat it like it's no big deal, but Merlin will be all surprised and delighted like it's the first time (someone please write me this scene, too?)

12) ENCHANTED MERLIN. RUDE, HOMICIDAL MERLIN. OMG, he is so funny. I honestly did not know Colin could be that funny. I love seeing him play what's essentially a totally different character -- there's something awesomely hard and sharp about him here.

And I have to confess to you guys, I got just the tiniest little bit of evil satisfaction over Merlin verbally bitchslapping Gwen. I KNOW, I'M SORRY. I couldn't help it. It was so awesomely meta.

13) LEON. CROSSBOW. "Driving you mad, is he?" "Not for much longer!" Colin's delivery of that line cracked me up so hard. I totally love that the knights are just entertained by Arthur and Merlin's bickering/flirting, and Leon doesn't find it even a little bit odd or inappropriate that Merlin would carry off a crossbow declaring that he was going to shoot Arthur with it.

I also really like seeing more of Leon's personality, both the lighter side here and the fierce knight facing old Merlin later. I really didn't like him much last year, since the one bit of personality he showed was kind of assy, but now I'm much happier with our brave Sir Leon.

14) "What do you think of Percival?" "He's very big." Well, that pretty much sums up Percival's place in fandom, I guess. Also -- HEY, THEY REMEMBERED (ALMOST) THAT ELYAN AND GWEN ARE RELATED! And that Uther killed Tom! WOW.

I do love that Arthur is willing to logically consider whether any of his own knights might be the traitor. He trusts them, but he's not going to be blind about it. Same for family members, don't you agree, AGRAVAINE?

15) Oh, hello, long coat I love on Arthur so much. Mmmm. I want him in that coat all the time.

16) A HUNDRED ASSASIN!MERLIN FICS WERE JUST RENDERED UTTERLY UNBELIEVABLE. His incompetence at murdering Arthur was just awesome and hilarious. Merlin knocking himself out in the middle of trying to run Arthur through was great. Between that and the misfiring crossbow, it made me wonder if Merlin's own magic isn't somehow subtly sabotaging his assassination efforts. Also, something about the way Gwen swung that pitcher to knock Merlin out again made me laugh so hard.

17) Arthur suspects Agravaine! Not firmly enough yet, but next week looks like it could be promising on that front. FINALLY. His little speech about how he would be betraying Arthur's mother if he betrayed Arthur made me happy that at least the writers haven't forgotten that his betraying Arthur really doesn't make sense. And it gives me hope that maybe they plan to explain his motivations at some point.

18) BATH SCENE. Okay, first, how awesome is it that Arthur is totally baring his soul to Merlin? And baring his body, too! No more bath sheets in the way -- he just walks right out, totally naked in front of Merlin.

And then the rest is so funny. I have never loved Gwen more than in this scene. She was so adorable and funny and damn, she looks good with her hair like that (and her dress like that). Why can't she be like that all the time?

19) OLD MERLIN AND THE KNIGHTS. Oh, that was so, so awesome. First, all the knights had lines! All so loyal to Arthur! Also, I think that answers the question as to whether Gwaine has revealed his true identity -- from his reaction to old Merlin mentioning that he wasn't what he seemed, he obviously hasn't.

"Percival, that is a sword, it does hurt." LOL! And slamming the knights around into each other -- how many times you do think Merlin has fantasized about doing that while watching the knights training with each other?

20) OLD MERLIN AND MORGANA. Wow, badass sorcery duel FINALLY. That was so hot. And surprisingly believable -- it's clear that Merlin is more powerful than Morgana, but he's hindered by his 80 year old form. I love Morgana's fear of him, recognizing him as Emrys, her doom, and her momentary relief and triumph when she thought she'd defeated him. Love the return of the whirlwind from 1.10! It's gotten a lot more effective looking!

21) TWO WHOLE DAYS IN THE TAVERN. You know, this scene, all by itself, illustrates the difference between this season and last. Arthur is mad and punishing Merlin (because the one thing Arthur can't stand is not being able to find Merlin when he wants him, which is all the time), but it's funny and sweet, not mean. So, so cute, especially the way Arthur can barely keep a straight face, and then STRAIGHT OUT TELLS MERLIN that he doesn't want another servant because he just likes being with Merlin. *high pitched squeeing noises here*

And I do find it so cute how indignant Merlin always is about people telling Arthur that he was in the tavern. I think when the reveal finally comes, Merlin is going to want to make two things very clear: 1) He has saved Arthur's life thirty gazillionty times, and 2) HE IS NOT A RAGING ALCOHOLIC. Possibly not in that order.

So... this episode was the best thing ever, Y/Y/OMGY?

Comments

[kerryblaze.livejournal.com]

HE IS NOT A RAGING ALCOHOLIC
LOL!!!!!

Best Ever = YES!

[corilannam.livejournal.com]

\o/

I really think that's going to be the first thing that Merlin feels the need to clear up. And then he's going to go around and hit a lot of people.